I persist through challenges because of my village.
Immigrants Rising logo.
Dear John,
I’m Ezi, a Wellness Support Group participant here at Immigrants Rising.
I moved to the U.S. from Ghana with my family when I was 13. Like many of us, we left behind our beloved friends, relatives, and the place we once called home without a clear path for adjusting our status. Instead, all we had was the hope for a brighter future and each other. For me, this looked like being secure in my queer identity and pursuing performing arts with full acceptance and support. However, being Black, gay, and undocumented in the South limited my opportunities and forced me to redirect.
Discovering the UndocuBlack Network ([link removed]) and soon after, Immigrants Rising’s Wellness Support Groups ([link removed]) opened up new possibilities for me. Not only did I find resources to sustain myself, but more importantly, I found the movement and the people who nurture my soul. This community of people who are also undocumented is now part of what I call my village.
Ezi posing and smiling widely with two of their close friends.
Ezi posing and smiling widely with two of their close friends.
The Wellness Support Groups allowed me to connect with people with similar experiences, regardless of where we were in the U.S. I met people with whom I could share a deep love, warmth, and care. We did not need many words to understand each other.
Can I count on your support to ensure undocumented people can continue to receive the mental health and social support we need to thrive? ([link removed])
I persist through the challenges that come my way because of the love, support, and openness I receive from my village, including those I met through the Wellness Support Groups. I learned that our very existence is resistance. Although what comes next for me remains uncertain, I hold onto my lifelong dream of being in the performing arts and strive towards that future as long as I have my community, fueling and boosting me forward, and I can’t wait to give back.
Tending to our villages together,
Ezi
Wellness Support Group Participant
Immigrants Rising
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